Some of the news from Tuesday's elections was absolutely terrific and some of it was not so good and honestly some of it was just really surprising:
Maine voters passed the nation's first "right to food" constitutional amendment on Tuesday.
A statewide referendum asked voters if they favored an amendment to the Maine Constitution "to declare that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being." It was an experiment not tried before by any state.
Supporters used the campaign to make the case the amendment would ensure the right to grow vegetables and raise livestock in an era when corporatization threatens local ownership of the food supply. They positioned the amendment as a chance for Mainers to wrestle control of the food supply back from large landowners and giant retailers with little connection to the community.
Well, that's good in and of itself. After all, it seems obvious that everyone should have the right to produce and eat whatever food he so desires.
Still, it's sort of depressing that this was even necessary to pass—that we apparently need to clarify something as basic and uncontroversial as being allowed to grow and consume food.
Not sure what it all ultimately means, but all in all, good for Maine!
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